Legal Book » wednesday

Scott Rothstein’s ‘Uncle Bill’ pleads guilty

Master — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:37:51 +0000

William Boockvor pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court to assisting his nephew, Scott Rothstein, in the $1.2 billion Ponzi scheme orchestrated out of the Florida law firm where they worked. Boockvor says he aims to cooperate with prosecutors in hopes of reducing his final sentence.

Jury says TD Bank liable for $67 million judgment

Master — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:33:53 +0000

A jury took less than five hours Wednesday to come back with a verdict finding TD Bank conspired with scammer Scott Rothstein, awarding $67 million to an investment group. Texas-based Coquina Investments sued TD Bank, saying the bank aided and abetted Rothstein in his $1.2 billion fraud.

Court approves act extending copyrights to foreign works previously in public domain

Master — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:33:46 +0000

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Wednesday that the Constitution did not bar Congress from extending copyright protection to previously free foreign works, rejecting arguments by musicians, conductors, publishers and others who enjoyed free access before Congress acted in 1994.

Citing law firm’s errors, high court rules for death row inmate

Master — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 05:33:45 +0000

The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that an Alabama death row inmate should not be penalized for missing a crucial appeal deadline when the error was caused by his pro bono lawyers from New York’s Sullivan & Cromwell. The 7-2 ruling in Maples v

In medical leave case, questions of self-care and sovereign immunity

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:07 +0000

The lawyer for a fired employee of the Maryland judiciary urged the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to find that states can be sued when they refuse to give their employees leave for serious illnesses under a key provision of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act.

In medical leave case, questions of self-care and sovereign immunity

Master — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:07 +0000

Unanimous high court finds for church in EEOC fight

admin — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:26:05 +0000

A surprisingly unanimous Supreme Court on Wednesday endorsed a “ministerial exception” to employment discrimination laws, asserting that, under the First Amendment, government must keep its nose out of the hiring and firing of clergy. All 12 federal appeals courts have long recognized some form of ministerial exception, but the Supreme Court had not given its imprimatur until now.

FTC charges pipe fittings suppliers with price fixing

Master — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:19:55 +0000

The Federal Trade Commission on Wednesday charged the three biggest suppliers of pipe fittings used in municipal water systems with illegally conspiring to set and maintain prices, alleging that one of the companies also illegally maintained monopoly power.

Cell Industry Lawyers Thrown Curve on Fee Request

admin — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:19:50 +0000

A federal judge denied attorney fees on Wednesday to a wireless industry group that won a partial injunction against a San Francisco ordinance requiring cellphone retailers to disseminate information about potential health risks.

Holland & Knight Ends its Lobbying Work for AT&T

Master — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 23:22:05 +0000

Holland & Knight on Wednesday notified Congress that it is no longer lobbying for AT&T, becoming the first firm to disclose that it ceased its government advocacy work for the company after the telecommunications provider dropped its planned acquisition of T-Mobile USA in December.

$60,000 per month spent on prostitutes for partners, Rothstein says

admin — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 06:24:01 +0000

In deposition transcripts released Wednesday, Ponzi schemer Scott Rothstein testified he spent up to $60,000 a month on escorts and prostitutes for himself and several law partners and associates for trysts at a condo maintained by his law firm.

Florida Supreme Court suspends attorney Jeremy Alters

Master — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 10:31:37 +0000

A divided Florida Supreme Court on Wednesday suspended Miami attorney Jeremy Alters for allegedly misappropriating trust accounts to cover personal overdrafts, paying clients with money from other clients’ trust accounts and taking out loans of $14 million to cover client obligations.

Venable, Zuckerman, Simpson Guide Ranbaxy to $500 Million DOJ Settlement, FDA Consent Decree over Tainted Drugs

admin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:12:25 +0000

On Wednesday, Ranbaxy announced a $500 million settlement with the DOJ over claims that it marketed generic drugs that didn’t meet federal safety standards. The CEO and board members of Daiichi Sankyo of Japan, which has a controlling stake in Ranbaxy, immediately vowed to slash their salaries in response.

Van Ness Feldman, GordonDerr Announce Merger

Master — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:31:48 +0000

Washington, D.C.-based law firm Van Ness Feldman and Seattle-based GordonDerr announced Wednesday that the two firms will merge next year. The combined entity, to be known as Van Ness Feldman, will have a total of 98 lawyers.

En Banc Circuit Grapples With Closed Court During Jury Selection in Lawyer’s Trial

Master — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 08:31:47 +0000

The 2nd Circuit on Wednesday grappled with the issue of whether any closing of a courtroom during jury selection constitutes a “structural” flaw in the proceedings requiring a new trial for a convicted defendant or whether there remains a subset of closings that do not violate the right to a public trial.

Circuit Rejects ‘Vigorous’ Bid to Upset FCPA Conviction

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:37:08 +0000

Frederic Bourke Jr.’s attack on his conviction for a conspiracy to bribe officials to gain control of Azerbaijan’s state-run oil company was rejected Wednesday by the 2nd Circuit, which affirmed the entrepreneur’s conviction of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and the Travel Act.

Newspaper Wins Judges’ Sympathies in Arpaio Suit

Master — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:37:04 +0000

A 9th Circuit panel on Wednesday grilled the lawyer who represents Joe Arpaio, “America’s toughest sheriff,” in a suit that accuses Arpaio and his cronies of arresting two Phoenix newspaper executives on bogus charges in retaliation for the paper’s aggressive coverage of Arpaio.

Ex-Am Law Associate Kluger Pleads Guilty in $37 Million Insider Trading Scheme

admin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 07:37:01 +0000

Matthew Kluger pleaded guilty Wednesday to four counts stemming from an insider trading scheme that federal prosecutors say netted him and two other men a total of $37 million over roughly 17 years — a period during which Kluger worked at Cravath, Fried Frank, Skadden and Wilson Sonsini.

Under FCPA, former Siemens executives charged with ’stunning’ bribes of Argentine officials

Master — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 05:57:43 +0000

The biggest-ever Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case lives on with Wednesday’s announcement that eight former executives and agents of Siemens AG have been charged with bribing officials in Argentina to get a $1 billion government contract.

Antitrust Regulators Have Questions on Oracle-RightNow Deal

admin — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 07:07:00 +0000

The Justice Department’s Antitrust Division wants more information about Oracle’s $1.5 billion acquisition of RightNow Technologies. On Wednesday, the department sent RightNow a second request for information in connection with its review of the merger, according to an SEC filing.

Williams Ends Pursuit of Death Penalty for Abu-Jamal

Master — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:38:17 +0000

Philadelphia’s district attorney announced Wednesday he won’t reseek the death penalty for Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of first-degree murder in 1982 for the slaying of a police officer. The decision to discontinue pursuit of the death penalty effectively solidifies a life sentence for Abu-Jamal.

A last-minute stock sale keeps Breyer on patent case

Master — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:38:10 +0000

The family stockbroker for Justice Stephen Breyer was busy Wednesday morning, executing a last-minute stock sale that enabled Breyer to participate in a key patent case — a strategy that justices have used more and more so that cases can be decided by as close to a nine-member Court as possible.

Sandusky Re-Arrested After Two Additional Accusers Come Forward

admin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 07:38:06 +0000

Jerry Sandusky was re-arrested Wednesday after two more alleged victims testified before a grand jury that they too were molested by the former Penn State assistant football coach when they were children. Sandusky was charged with four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor, all first-degree felonies, each punishable by up to 20 years in prison.

In privacy case, justices home in on the meaning of ‘actual damages’

Master — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:37:08 +0000

In a case watched closely by privacy and whistleblower advocates, lawyers for an HIV-positive pilot and the federal government clashed in the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday over whether damages for mental and emotional distress can be recovered for violations of the Privacy Act.

Milbank Matches Cravath as Bonus Season Kicks Into High Gear

Master — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 07:37:07 +0000

Thanks in part to a strong financial performance during the first eight months of the year, Milbank told its associates Wednesday they will receive bonuses that match those announced Monday by Cravath. Skadden also told its associates Wednesday they will get bonuses in line with the scale set by Cravath.